Total Body Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

An exercise device having a bar adapted for being grasped intermediate opposed ends thereof, where a portion intermediate the opposed ends defines a longitudinal axis. An elastic member attached to the opposed ends exerts a force thereto during an exercise use of the bar, which force causes the bar to flex by an amount in the range of 2 degrees to 16 degrees. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, during non-use of the bar, the longitudinal axis of the end segments subtends the longitudinal axes of the intermediate portion by an acute angle of about 2 degrees to 8 degrees.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC 120 of prior U.S.Provisional Patent Application U.S. Ser. No. 60/617,832, filed Oct. 12,2004. The entire disclosure of this patent application is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to exercise devices, and moreparticularly to a portable and versatile total body exercise device thatis useful for an extremely wide range of workouts, for example, forpower pump, cardio, aerobic, marshal arts, youth, senior,rehabilitation, etc.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices to aid in the exercise of various muscle groups have beenmanufactured for many years. Portable exercise devices have become morepopular over the years because they are generally less expensive topurchase and can be readily transported by their owner so that a regularprogram of physical fitness can be more easily be maintained. One typeof portable exercise device comprises a bar with an elastic cord whichsimulates weight lifting, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,019,861.More recent attempts employing a bar and/or an elastic cord member,either separately or together, to facilitate various exercises aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,059,265; 4,618,142; 4,733,862; 5,480,369;5,549,532; and 5,746,687.

Among the drawbacks with existing portable bar type exercise devices isthat generally they are not shaped so as to allow a maximum range ofmotion when used adjacent various body parts, such as around or near theneck, head and/or shoulders, as well as up close to the chest,especially for woman. Furthermore, the stiffness of such bars can, overtime, contribute to injury of the joints of the wrist, elbow andshoulders. Accordingly, improvements in such devices are stilldesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention, the exercise deviceincludes an ergonomically shaped support bar adapted to be supported bya part of the body of a user, such as one or both of the hands or feet,or the neck and clavicle or even the chest of the user, during anexercise workout. The support bar can be used in conjunction with one ormore elastic members attached near opposed ends of the support bar,alone, or in conjunction with one or more weight members, which can alsobe attached near the opposed ends of the support bar. When the userperforms repetitive movements with the bar, a workout is provided due tothe dynamic resistance to the movement generated by the elastic membersand a static resistance to the movement generated by the weight members.

The support bar is particularly unique as compared with prior bars in atleast several respects, most notable being its shape, its ability toflex, its use of attachable dynamic and static resistive members, aswell as the use of members near the ends of the bar for attaching thedynamic resistive members. The unique support bar allows the user toperform existing exercise movements in a safer manner, and with agreater range of motion. New exercise movements are also disclosed. Withthe new versatile total body exercise device of the invention, it is nowpossible for a user to quickly and efficiently perform a vast array ofisometric, isotonic and isokinetic exercise movements.

In summary, the exercise device of the invention includes one or more ofthe following features, alone or in combination with other ones of thesefeatures:

-   -   A support bar being formed of five substantially equal length        segments,    -   The support bar being formed of a material and having dimensions        and a shape which aid its flexibility,    -   The support bar having a shape which conforms to the human body,    -   The support bar being adaptable for having one or more elastic        members attached thereto near opposed ends thereof for providing        a dynamic resistance feature to the bar,    -   Attachment of the elastic members being made with flexible        length couplings,    -   The support bar being adaptable for having one or more static        weights attached near opposed ends thereof for providing a        static resistance feature to the bar, and    -   Spring clips which provide a dual use, a) for retaining the        static weights on the opposed ends of the support bar and b) for        use independently of the support bar as a hand/grip exercise        device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate embodiments and details of theinvention, and, together with the general description given above andthe detailed description given below, serve to explain the features ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exercise bar in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a detail view of one aspect of a portion of theexercise bar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a detail view of another aspect of a portion of theexercise bar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail view of a spring clip adapted for use withthe exercise bar of FIG. 1 in accordance with a further aspect of theinvention;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b illustrate two different ways the elastic member ofFIG. 3 can be used in accordance with further embodiments of theinvention of the exercise bar of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6-14 illustrate various exercise routines using the exercise barconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the exercise device is aunit comprised of at least one shaped support bar, such as shown inFIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment of the support bar 10, it has aconfigured shape that is more anatomically comfortable and conforming tothe users body than prior art support bars. More specifically, thesupport bar 10 has a contour that more closely matches the shape of atypical user (i.e., the neck and clavicle or the chest of the user),thereby allowing a greater range of movement of the support bar withrelation to the body of the user during the performance of exerciseroutines. This results in a “glove-like fit” to the users body enhancesa workout of what is known as the “core” muscle group, as well asenabling the performance of various exercise movements in a safer andmore efficient manner as compared to the use of a support bar that isnot as anatomically conforming.

As such, in one embodiment of the invention, such as shown by theFigures, support bar 10 comprises five symmetrically disposed equal ornearly equal (that is, within + or −20% of equal) length segments. Acenter segment 12 has at its opposed ends angled intermediate segments14 which have a longitudinal axis that deviates from the longitudinalaxis of the center section 12 by an acute angle within a range of about26 to 46 degrees, and in a preferred embodiment by an acute angle in anarrower range of about 32 to 40 degrees, or more specifically of about36 degrees.

The angled intermediate segments 14 have at their opposed ends, endsegments 16. In a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in theFigures, support bar 10 is encased with a soft foam material whichserves as a cushion for the user, while the end segments 16 are bare offoam, as shown, so that additional weights can be added to ends 16 ofthe bar 10, as will be described later.

The longitudinal axis of end segments 16 may be approximately parallelwith the longitudinal axis of the center segment 12, but in accordancewith another aspect of the invention, the end segments 16 have alongitudinal axis that subtends the longitudinal axis of the centersegment 12 at an acute angle within a range of about 0 to minus 8degrees, and in a preferred embodiment at an acute angle of about minus2 to minus 4 degrees. FIG. 2 shows an exaggerated view of the acuteangle of about minus 2 to minus 4 degrees between the axis's of segments12 and segments 16, and in dashed lines illustrates one embodiment of arange of flex motion of end segment 16 of about 2 to 16 degrees duringuse of the exercise device, such flex being in accordance with a furtheraspect of the invention.

It is to be noted that although in the illustrated embodiment the rangeof flex is shown to be in the minus direction, in an alternativeembodiment, the orientation of the bar 10 could be inverted, so thateven though one could still say the range of flex is minus, it wouldactually be in an opposite direction with respect to the shape of bar 10from what is shown in FIG. 2. Such an “opposite” flexible angle couldalso be advantageous, depending on the specific use of bar 10.

In one embodiment of the invention, each of the segments 12, 14, and 16are between 5 and 12 inches long, and in the illustrated embodiment thesegments are each about 8 inches long. As noted above, this combinationof lengths and angles forms a shape that more closely matches the shapeof a typical user, thereby allowing a greater range of movement of thesupport bar during performance of the exercise movements, as well asperformance of the exercise movements in a safer manner. For example,the offset center segment 12 will align with the chest of a female user,thereby allowing a greater range of motion during, for example, a bicepcurl. Additionally, in the event that the bar is lifted overhead tosupport the bar on the back of the neck of the user, the offset segment12 allows the user to rotate the bar when it is as low as near theshoulders of the user, so as to cause the segment 12 to becomepositioned behind the head of the user (see FIG. 6). This reduces therequired height that the user must raise the bar to get it over his/herhead, and allows the users hands to be positioned even with or slightlyforward of the body, instead of parallel with the plane of the back ofthe users body. This positioning helps reduce the possibility ofimpingement injury.

This arrangement also provides a particularly well-balanced piece ofexercise equipment, where the support bar 10 can be grasped at itscenter segment 12 with one hand just as well as it can with two hands. Apadding material can also be provided around the circumference of bar 10so as to provide some cushioning for the users, such padding materialbeing shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b

As noted above, the end segments 16 allow for the attachment of one orboth of dynamic and static resistances. In one embodiment, elasticband/cord members 17, shown in FIG. 3, provide the dynamic resistance,one such elastic member being conventionally formed using a material thesame as or similar to surgical tubing. The members 17 typically have arange of stretch in their length from about one-half the length ofsupport bar 10 to two or three times the length of support bar 10.

Standard free weights 21 having a hole can be slid onto the opposed ends22 of bar 10, for provide the static resistance to the exercise routinesperformed using bar 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further aspect of the invention where, for example,a hole 18 is formed in segments 18 so as to leave an area 22 (of about 2inches in length) at the outer ends of the support bar 10, and an area24 that is adjacent angled segments 14 that is sufficient to be graspedby the hand of the user. Hole 18 can serve as a convenient way to attachthe elastic members thereto, using, for example an “O” ring 20 that iscoupled near the ends of bar 10. In one embodiment, ring 20 may besimilar in construction and operation to the type of ring conventionallyused to hold a plurality of keys, and comprise, for example, twoclosely-spaced turns of spring steel, the turns having a diameter of 1to 4 inches, and preferably, about 2 to 3 inches. By separating the endof one turn from its adjacent turn, the open end can be threaded intohole 18 and rotated until ring 20 is centered and freely rotates in thehole 18. Once so installed, clips 19 at the opposed ends of elasticmember 17 shown in FIG. 3 can be easily attached to the opposed ends ofbar 10 using the rings 20. Other suitable alternative choices can bemade for the material to be used to form rings 20.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the rings20 are formed of a resilient material and have a thickness so as toflex, and thereby temporarily change their length, in response to theincreased force exerted thereon by the elastic members 17. Such atemporary change in length is particularly advantageous in that itallows for a “smooth” or more gradual increase in the resistance towhich the user is subjected to by the use of the elastic members. Suchelastic members typically provide a rapid increase in forces that areapplied to the user as the limits of the range of motion are approached.This gradual but temporary elongation of the rings 20 helps lessen theforces provided to the user at these extremes of the range of motion,thereby making the exercise apparatus more joint and connective tissuefriendly, as well as more forgiving in the case of improper performanceof a specific exercise.

Rings 20 allow a wide range of commercially available members 17 to beaffixed thereto. However, although rings 20 are shown, other ways forattaching the opposed ends of members 17 to bar 10 are possible, such asby attaching clips 19 directly to the holes 18.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, in orderto provide benefits which are similar to the benefits provided by theelongation/flexibility of the rings 20, but possibly with an evengreater range of “stretch or elongation” support bar 10 is formed so asto also provide some “give” or flex” in response to the increases inforce applied to its opposed ends 22 by elastic members 17. Such flexqualities of bar 10 are achieved by, for example, a combination of oneor more of the configured shape and the choice of materials andthickness for the bar 10.

In one embodiment bar 10 is formed of hollow aluminum tubing having aone-inch outer diameter, and a thickness of about 0.125 inches. Ifthinner, it may bend past its elasticity can permit, and result in apermanent deformation of its shape. If bar 10 is formed from a hollowsteel tube member, the wall thickness should be approximately 0.065inches. In an alternative embodiment, bar 10 could be formed using aplastic or other semi-flexible material. The amount of flex may varydepending on where the user grasps the bar 10, with a maximum flex atthe end of segments 16 occurring when the user grasps the bar at thecenter segment 12.

It is noted that the acute angle the longitudinal axis of segment 16makes with the longitudinal axis of segment 12 (i.e., within a range ofabout 0 to plus or minus 8 degrees when the bar is un-flexed), is alsointended to increase the flexibility and/or amount of flex, of bar 10during its normal use as an exercise device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, standardfree weights 21 can be easily coupled to support bar 10, so as toaugment the resistance provided by the elastic members 17, by slippingthe weights 21 over the ends 22 of the bar. The bar 10 can have aone-inch outer diameter, and weights 21 have a hole in the centerthereof designed to accommodate a one-inch bar. The rings 20 will keepthe weights 21 from impinging on the area 24 reserved for the grip of auser, and standard “spring-coil” clamps 26 shown in FIG. 4, well knownto those in the field of exercise equipment, can be used to secure theouter ends of segments 16, thereby locking weights 21 on segments 16.For added safety, the outermost portion of ends 22 could be providedwith an addition hole therethrough, in which a linchpin 27 could beselectively inserted therein, to even further secure the static weights21 on the bar 10.

Although only one elastic member 17 and weight 21 are shown in the aboveFigures, multiple dynamic flexible members 17 and static weights 21 canbe used, as well as various combinations thereof. For example, two ormore members 17 can be attached in parallel between the opposed ends ofbar 10. Additionally, one end of a single member 17 could be attached tothe ring 20 at one end of bar 12, and the other end of member 17 can belooped through the ring 20 at the other end of bar 12, and then broughtback to the first ring 20 where it is attached using the clip 19, suchas shown by FIG. 5 b, while FIG. 5 a shows the use of a single elasticmember 17 that is not doubled back on itself. Note that a plurality ofvarious types of elastic members 17 are conventionally available so asto provide a given resistance at a given amount of stretch, such as 10lbs, 20 lbs, 30 lbs, or even 60 lbs or more at 100% stretch. One or moreof such members can be provided for use with each support bar 10.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a user performing squat movements with the invention.Note how the shape of the bar 10 conforms to the neck and clavicleregion of the user, and allows the hands to remain in a safe and correctposition. Note also that the user can control/adjust to a great extentthe amount of resistance provided by the elastic member, by, e.g.,where/how he steps on the elastic member

FIG. 9 shows how instead of the feet of the user holding the elasticmember in place, the elastic member can be secured/anchored to anobject, such as by looping it around a pole, or some other fixed object.Note also in FIG. 9 how the shape of the support bar conforms to thechest of the user.

FIGS. 10 to FIG. 13 are self-explanatory, and show various other one andtwo hand movements that are particularly effective when using theinventive exercise device, as compared with the prior art devices. Forexample, in the movements shown in these figures, the flexcharacteristics of the bar 10 are significant, and offer real comfortand safety to the user, especially at the extremes of the ranges ofmotion shown.

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of a different body part for grasping bar10, specifically the feet.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. In fact, many such changes are already noted in thisdescription, but it should be realized that the above-noted changes werenot exhaustive, and merely exemplary. Those skilled in the art willrecognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routineexperimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of theinvention described herein. For example, a support bar having 5segments, where the center segment has a length of about 8 inches, theangles segments have a length of about 7 inches, and end segments have alength of about 12 inches, is still considered to constructed inaccordance with the principles of the invention. All such changes andmodifications are considered to be within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. An exercise bar comprising five symmetrically disposed andsubstantially equal length segments; a center segment; angledintermediate segments positioned at opposed ends of the center segment,which angled intermediate segments have a longitudinal axis that deviatefrom the longitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute anglewithin a range of about 26 to 46 degrees; end segments positioned atopposed ends of the angled intermediate segments, which end segmentshave a longitudinal axis that are approximately parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the center segment; an elastic member adapted to besecured to the one or both of the end segments; at least two weightmembers, at least one of each weight member being adapted to beselective positioned at a respective one of the end segments; and aretaining member for selectively retaining the weight member on the endsegments.
 2. The exercise bar of claim 1, where the retaining membercomprises a spring clip forming a circular clamp, and adapted to beselectively secured about a distal end of the end segments, so as toretain a weight member on the end segment of said bar.
 3. The exercisebar of claim 1, where the end segments have a longitudinal axis thatsubtends the longitudinal axis of the center segment at an acute anglewithin a range of about 0 degrees to plus or minus 8 degrees.
 4. Theexercise bar of claim 3, where the end segments have a longitudinal axisthat subtends the longitudinal axis of the center segment at an acuteangle within a range of about minus 2 degrees to minus 4 degrees.
 5. Theexercise bar of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the angledsegments deviates from the longitudinal axis of the center segment by anacute angle in a range of about 32 degrees to 40 degrees.
 6. Theexercise bar of claim 5, wherein a longitudinal axis of the angledsegments deviate from the longitudinal axis of the center segment by anacute angle of about 36 degrees.
 7. The exercise bar of claim 1, whereineach the five segments are between 5 and 12 inches long.
 8. The exercisebar of claim 7, wherein each the five segments is about 8 inches long.9. The exercise bar of claim 1, further including flexible lengthcoupling rings connected to the end segments for securing the elasticmembers to the end segments.
 10. The exercise bar of claim 9, whereinthe coupling rings are formed of a resilient material and have athickness so as to flex in response to force exerted thereon by theelastic members.
 11. The exercise bar of claim 1, wherein the segmentsare formed of a given material adapted to flex as a result of forceapplied to the end segments during normal use of the exercise bar by auser, said flex being in the range of about 2 degrees to about 16degrees.
 12. The exercise bar of claim 11, wherein the segments comprisea flexible hollow aluminum tube member, having about a one-inch outerdiameter and a wall thickness of about 0.125 inches.
 13. The exercisebar of claim 11, wherein the segments comprise a flexible hollow steeltube member, having about a one-inch outer diameter and a wall thicknessof about 0.065 inches.
 14. The exercise bar of claim 11, wherein thegiven material comprises a plastic or other semi-flexible material. 15.An exercise bar comprising five symmetrically disposed and substantiallyequal length segments; a center segment; angled intermediate segmentspositioned at opposed ends of the center segment, which angledintermediate segments have a longitudinal axis that deviate from thelongitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute angle within a rangeof about 26 to 46 degrees; end segments positioned at opposed ends ofthe angled intermediate segments, which end segments have a longitudinalaxis that intersects the longitudinal axis of the center segment at anacute angle between the range of 0 and about 8 degrees; and an elasticmember adapted to be secured to the end segments so as to provide aforce thereto during use of the exercise bar, said force causing the endsegments of said bar to flex during normal use of the exercise bar by auser, said flex being in the range of about 2 degrees to about 16degrees.
 16. The exercise bar of claim 15, where the end segments have alongitudinal axis that intersect the longitudinal axis of the centersegment at an acute angle within a range of about 2 degrees to 4degrees, said acute angle being opposite in direction to the angulardirection of the flex of said end segments when in use.
 17. The exercisebar of claim 15, wherein each the five segments are between 5 and 12inches long.
 18. The exercise bar of claim 17, wherein each the fivesegments is about 8 inches long.
 19. The exercise bar of claim 1,wherein a longitudinal axis of the angled segments deviates from thelongitudinal axis of the center segment by an acute angle in a range ofabout 26 degrees to 36 degrees.
 20. The exercise bar of claim 1, furtherincluding at least two weight members, at least one of each weightmember being adapted to be selective positioned at a respective one ofthe end segments; and a retaining member for selectively retaining theweight member on the end segments.